FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 870, 26 July 1910, Page 3

FOXTON HARBOUR BOARD.

ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary bi-monthly meeting of the Foxton Harbour Board was held in the Council Chamber last night. Present:—Messrs P. J. Hennessy (chairman), J. G. Wilson, W. T. Wood, J. A, Nash, H. Tolley and G. H. Stiles. An apology for absence was received from Mr B. R. Gardener.

The Secretary reported the amount to credit at the Bank of New Zealand at 2s 2d. Since the last meeting the sum of 13s 3d had been placed to credit representing pilotages for April /19 10s, May 14s qd, and June ,£l6 5s 3d and wharfage from the West Coast Steamship and Trading Co. Ltd., £5 3s 3d. The estimated pilotages for July are £22. The meeting will be asked to confirm the payment of Harbour-master’s salary at June Ist £l6 13s 4d, and July Ist £l6 13s 4d, and also for fire insurance 7s. Pending the decision as to leasing the Signal Station Reserve the present tenants have agreed to continue the tenancy to December 31st. The matter of application from tenants for permission to erect a jetty at the Beach has been before the subcommittee and it was decided to recommend permission be granted, and a lease or license given for fourteen years at a nominal rental, subject to the site being required at any time for haibour improvements and the jetty not interfering with traffic. The site proposed is near the present boat shed. The jetty will be about 180 feet long and will be erected solely at the expense of tenants. The matter of laying off and submitting for lease a further block of sections might be considered, there being only 15 unsold.—The report was adopted.

Correspondence was read as follows ;

From the Secretary of the New Plymouth Harbour Board, in reply to a communication from the Board asking for full particulars, including price of dredge for sale, advising that these will be furnished on the return of their engineer, about the middle of August. —Received. From the Postmaster, Foxton, advising that the Postal Department intend opening a post office at the Manawatu Heads, and asking permission to use portion of the pilot’s residence for such purpose and to appoint the pilot postmaster. —The matter was left in the hands of the Chairman, Mr Stiles and the Secretary with a recommendation that the pilot’s wife should be appointed to take charge of the office. From W. Young, asking permission to transfer his section at the Heads to Mr F. W. Gardes of Palmerston North. —Granted.

From A. O. Dufresne applying for permission to cut up section, and sub-let portions as desired. — It was decided to reply adivising that the Board disapproves of the sections being cut up and in any case plans must be submitted to the Board. From the Foxton Chamber of Commerce advising that a communication had been received from Mr E. Newman M.P. to the effect that another attempt is to be made to start a freezing works on this coast, and asking that the concession—a free site —offered to the Wellington Company, be granted to the proposed new Company.—Decided to offer free site as formerly. From Alt. Fraser applying for permission to erect a boat house below high water mark In front of his section on river bank, —Permission granted. In reference to the request from the lessees to erect a jetty at the heads, it was decided to grant them permission tor a period of years at a peppercorn rental.

The balance-sheet as received back from the Audit Office was settled and signed by the Chairman.

The form of lease of beach sections submitted by the Board’s solicitor was approved and left in the hands of the Chairman and Mr Stiles to sign and affix seal.

It was decided that the executive visit the Beach sections with a view of inspecting what land it would be desirable to survey lor further leasing. The committee to furnish a report at the next Board meeting.

Accounts amounting to 15s 8d were passed for payment.

The Board went into committee to deal with the question of wharfages on goods landed on the West Coast Steamship and Trading Co’s, new wharf, and also to discuss what action be taken in reference to further negotiations with the Government for some financial assistance.

On resuming, Mr Tolley said that he would ask to be .excused from attending the ordinary meetings of the Board unless anything special w r as to be discussed. He thought that all small matters could well be left to the Foxton members to deal with. He also suggested holding occasional meetings in Palmerston North, which would be more convenient for the majority of the members of the Board.

Mr Wilson thought it would be wise to consider the advisability of holding meetings quarterly instead of bi-monthly as at present. This would be a convenience to Board members outside of Foxton. Mr Nash said he would oppose holding the meetings quarterly as it was only by constant attendance at meetings that a member could get the hang of things. If only four meetings were held a year the members would get out of touch with the business of the Board. After some further discussion Mr Wilson gave notice to move at

the next meeting : “that meetings of the Board be held every four months and that a special meeting be held at Palmerston North in between the ordinary meetings. A vote of thanks was accorded the secretary for the trouble he had taken in furnishing a table of areas, values, etc., of the sections at the Heads. The Board rose at 11.10 p.m.